Bill Walker is an American politician and the current and the 11th Governor of Alaska. He won the gubernatorial elections held on November 4, 2014 on an Independent ticket. He contested on the ‘Alaska First Unity Ticket’ with his gubernatorial mate Byron Mallot who was from the Democratic Party. Walker forfeited his long-standing Republican Party membership to be able to contest on the consolidated ticket. He had contested earlier for the post of Governor on a Republican ticket but had lost the party’s primary nomination to incumbent Governor Sean Parnell. He opted to contest as an independent so that he could avoid another tough primary against Parnell and won in a state which had preferred either a Republican or a Democrat as a Governor before. He is opposed to the construction of the ‘Pebble Mine’, and acknowledges that climate changes have occurred due to energy policies being followed by the government. He wants to adopt policies that would help mitigate the harmful effects of climate change but supports increasing the capacities of gas and oil production. He also supports new projects for drilling petroleum in the ‘Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’ area. He is in favor of gun rights and a greater degree of sovereignty for Alaska. He supported the expansion of Medicaid which was made possible by the ‘Affordable Care Act’.